Swann fit for final warm-up match

Graeme Swann was passed fit for England's final warm-up match today against a Pakistan Cricket Board XI, in a team also containing Monty Panesar as a second spinner and seamers Graham Onions and Chris Tremlett.

England chose to rest first-choice pace bowlers Stuart Broad and James Anderson, along with Steve Finn, all of whom featured in their first match of this United Arab Emirates tour at the same GCA ground venue.

Swann had been doubtful because of a sore thigh, but a scan confirmed his well-being, while wicketkeeper Matt Prior returned to the team after missing out with a bruised left ring finger last time.

Onions has not played for England for more than two years because of a career-threatening back injury.

He and Tremlett, who has recovered from an eye infection, have the opportunity to push for a place as the third seamer in next week's first Test against Pakistan.

England picked the same first-six batting line-up which featured against an International Cricket Council Combined XI and is inked in against Pakistan too.

England were perhaps relieved to be batting first, on the same pitch used against the Combined XI and one which began to take spin in that match, after the PCB won the toss.

After a watchful start, England hit trouble in the seventh over when Mohammad Talha saw off Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott in the space of four balls.

The swing bowler, included in Pakistan's Test squad here, had Strauss caught behind with a very good delivery - and then number three Trott offered no shot to go lbw for a duck to one that nipped back.

Alastair Cook was joined by Kevin Pietersen as England moved to 43 for two after an hour's play.